Page 22 of One Night Bride
“I always arrive at just the right time,” I said breezily, reaching the living room as the kitchen timer went off, signaling the lasagna was done. I lifted my nose in the air. “And there’s French bread too. You’re making it hard to live without you, Mom.”
Mom let me steal a kiss on her cheek as she headed to the oven, but then elbowed me out of the way. She still wasn’t happy I’d gone off and gotten married without going the normal route of an engagement. If she only knew the truth, she’d be so furious I wouldn’t have to worry about handing the ranch to Ruger. She’d disinherit me altogether.
Seeing Ruger talking to my wife over by the couch, I quickly headed in that direction. Ruger could keep his filthy hands—and his conversation—to himself.
“Telling Esme all about our childhood, huh?” I murmured, sliding my arm around Esme’s waist and pulling her into me. She stayed stiff as a board for a second, before melting into me. Because she liked the feel of me or because of our ruse, I wasn’t sure. I preferred to believe the former.
Ruger smirked. “Just telling her all the reasons she chose the wrong Roth brother.”
I snorted, while thinking my plan to act married for real in front of my family was the best idea I’d had in ages. “She prefers a man, not a man-boy.” Ruger was only three years younger than me, and at twenty-five was hardly a boy, but I made a point to always tease him. It’s what big brothers did.
“Time to eat, boys,” Mom called out from the dining room.
Ruger dashed over like he had a hole in his leg that needed to be filled with Mom’s home cooking. Killam thundered down the stairs, his hair wet from the shower and following his nose to the food. I steered Esme in the direction of the table as well, taking my time though so she’d have to stay right by my side. I wouldn’t give her much space the whole time we were here. She gave me a side-eyed look I ignored. If we were married for real, I’d be all over her. Anything less would raise suspicion with my family.
Right as we got to the table, and I was about to pull out a chair for her right next to where I always sat, she stepped on my toes with her heel, grinding down and pasting a bright smile on her face. I couldn’t even yelp despite the pain.
Two could play that game.
She sat down and I took the seat next to her, making sure I offered her a portion before me. When we all had our food and began to eat, I let my hand slide over to her thigh. A few inches north and I could make her dinner far more pleasurable. Esme took a bite of lasagna, put her fork down, and reached under the table to stab me with her nails.
I sucked in a breath.
“Did you find a place in Tahoe?” Mom asked nonchalantly.
I knew there was nothing casual about that question. She and Dad hated that I wanted to leave the ranch. We’d had one too many arguments about it in the past. They just couldn’t understand why I didn’t want a successful ranch handed to me. I wasn’t being an ungrateful son; I just wanted to chart my own course. But now wasn’t the time to argue. Not with Esme here for the first time.
“I did, but time will tell if that actually happens.” I left it at that.
“So, tell us how it all happened in Tahoe, Rem,” Dad said from the head of the table, clearly referring to Esme and me.
I snatched my hand back from the she-cat and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. Pulling her into me, I placed a kiss on the side of her forehead.
“We met at the restaurant downstairs in the hotel. Esme was so smitten, she ditched the bachelorette party she was with to have dinner with me. Of course, I wined and dined her with the most expensive things on the menu.” I smirked as Mom sighed dreamily.
Esme snorted. The only thing I’d treated her to was my cock and a cold bathroom wall.
“And the rest is history!” Esme cut in with a brilliant smile I knew was fake. “So, Killam, how did you come to meet the Roths?”
Killam’s fork clanged on his plate. Poor kid. He was seventeen, and even though he’d grown into a good-looking guy, he didn’t know what to do with the ladies quite yet. Esme bringing the whole table’s attention to him had to be nerve wracking.
“Um.” He cleared his throat. “I was nine when I met Rem. He caught me trying to steal a lady’s shopping bag. Told me he wouldn’t turn me in if I came by the ranch three days a week and did some work for the Roths.” He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal when we all knew it was. “Moved in last year when I turned sixteen.”
I held my breath, hoping Esme wouldn’t ask a bunch of questions. Killam hated talking about his parental situation. No one would want to talk about something so painful and scary. Her face softened, and she gave him a genuine smile this time.
“Sometimes the best family is the one you choose, not the one you’re born into.”
Killam gave her a nod, and the conversation moved away, turning into story time, which happened to feature a bunch of exaggerated stories about me growing up. I gave as good as I got though, lighting up Ruger and Killam next. Mom and Dad laughed, clearly enjoying having all three of us boys back together. I didn’t spend nearly enough time around the family dinner table as I used to, always having something to do or someplace to be. I saw Ruger and Killam working on the ranch during the day, but rarely gave them my free time.
With my hand back on Esme’s thigh, without the nails digging into my skin this time, I felt a strange type of peace settle over me. This was nice.
Esme made a funny noise. I looked over to see her discreetly yawning into her hand. A quick check of my watch showed it was late. She had to be bored sitting around our table while we reminisced about people and events she didn’t know about.
“Well, honeypoo, it’s about time we headed up. Long day tomorrow.” I put my napkin on the table and got up, helping to pull Esme to her feet. “Mom, do you mind if I skip dishes just this once to get Esme settled in?”
Mom gave me a knowing smile, waving her hands in the air. “Go on, you two. Ruger and Killam have you covered.”
“It was a lovely dinner, thank you,” Esme said graciously, pulling away from me.
